Penn Entertainment’s Will Transform Boomtown New Orleans into a Landside Hollywood Casino

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This comes after a similar transformation at the Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs

New Orleans

PENN Entertainment plans to spend about $195 million moving Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans from a riverboat model to a landside site in Jefferson Parish and relaunching it as Hollywood Casino New Orleans, if regulators approve the project. 

The company said the new venue is expected to open in 2029 and would add about 140,000 square feet of gaming and hospitality space, along with around 875 slot machines, 45 table games, a retail sportsbook and several dining outlets. 

PENN said the current hotel would remain open for now.

A Wider Louisiana Footprint

Jay Snowden, PENN’s chief executive, said: “This investment reflects our disciplined approach to capital allocation, prioritising organic growth opportunities that build on our operational strengths and are expected to deliver compelling returns.” 

The move fits a broader pattern of PENN shifting selected properties on to land

The company announced the opening of a new facility in Iowa renamed Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs from the previous Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs. That relocation was expected to cost between $180-200 million. 

He added: “As with our previous relocations, we expect our new facility to enhance the customer experience and strengthen the property’s competitive position in the New Orleans market.”

Approval, Funding and Timing

The company said the project remains subject to approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and Jefferson Parish Council. 

PENN expects to fund the redevelopment with cash on hand, although it said it may also draw on its balance sheet or other liquidity sources.

At the end of last year, Boomtown New Orleans reported a 16% decline of revenue to $8.7 million from year-on-year.